Over 200 volunteers in seven towns tended Mother
Earth on Sunday, April 27th, by participating in the Blackstone River
Watershed Associations’s (BRWA) EarthDay Cleanup. This enthusiastic
turnout beat last year's record for the annual event.

Volunteers after the cleanup of Hopedale Pond.
Showing lawn mower and seed drill removed from pond.

Individuals, families, church groups, and scout groups throughout the
Blackstone River watershed participated in the cleanup event. Sites
included Millbury (the Blackstone River along the Blackstone bikeway),
Grafton (the Quinsigamond River, the Blackstone River, Hovey Pond,
Hayes Pond, and Silver Lake), Sutton (Lakey Dam), Northbridge (Meadow
Pond, the Mumford River River Walk, and the Blackstone River), Uxbridge
(the Blackstone Canal and River in and around River Bend Park, and the
Mumford River), Hopedale (Hopedale Pond), and Millville (the Blackstone River).

Trash removed from the Blackstone River and Bacon Brook during
the Earthday Cleanup.
Photo by Susan Thomas.

The volunteers worked on land and in the water to remove enough litter
to fill over 170 large garbage bags! They also removed two dozen tires,
household items, bikes, furniture, hazardous waste, and construction
debris. Removing this trash keeps waterways open for fish and wildlife,
and for paddlers and anglers. The Cleanup also improves the water
quality of the Blackstone River by removing potential sources of
contamination. This year's haul included paint cans, propane tanks,
a computer monitor, three lawn mowers, and an old seed drill!

Following the highly productive cleanup, volunteers gathered at River
Bend Farm’s Visitor Center in Uxbridge for pizza and refreshments
provided by the BRWA with generous support from Stop and Shop of Grafton,
Shaws of Northbridge, Hannafords of Uxbridge, and Harry’s Famous Pizza
of Uxbridge.

As part of the annual EarthDay Cleanup, the BRWA partnered with
Alternatives Unlimited, Inc. to sponsor a Clean and Green Fair at River
Bend Farm. Volunteers viewed displays and demonstrations about
watershed protection and terracycling. Seedling plantings and
children’s activities were also provided.

Now that we've hauled out the man-made garbage, it's time to roll up
our sleeves and haul out Mother Nature's garbage! Join us for the
BRWA’s annual Pull the Plants Party to continue our battle against the
invasive asian water chestnut outbreak in Rice City Pond! We can't
accomplish this without your help!

The work party will be held July 26th,
from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and/or August 10th, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at
Rice City Pond in Uxbridge. Exact date will be dependent on weather
and plant growth – more details to follow. In the meantime, check out
our invasive species page:
http://www.thebrwa.org/invasives.htm.

Free BRWA Member PaddlesRow, row, row your boat, gently down the
Blackstone River Canal with the BRWA! We are offering free member
paddle outings at the River Bend Farm Visitor Center on a series of
three Sundays from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Members will be able to use canoes
for free. And while you're there, try out the nature adventure kits
assembled by the park staff to learn about and identify local animals
and plants. If you are not a BRWA member, you can join anytime at
www.thebrwa.org or you can join
the day of the event and use the canoes for free all of the following Sundays!

The first of these events will be held on June 29th. Come listen to
the melodic Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band perform on the
lovely meadow setting of River Bend Farm from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
You can paddle while the musicians strum for a perfect summer outing.
Don't forget to bring a scrumptious picnic supper. The second event
will be held on August 9th to coincide with the State Park's celebration
of Smokey the Bear's 70th birthday at 1:00 p.m. Kids from 1 to 100
will enjoy this outing! The third and final member paddle will be
offered on August 16th. Come and be mezmerized by the Eastern MA
Rhythm Festival, which runs from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The River
Bend Farm Visitor Center is located at 287 Oak Street, in Uxbridge.

June is National Safety Month.Summer is such a wonderful time to explore all the
nooks and crannies of the Blackstone River watershed. But do it safely
both for you and for our natural resources. When paddling a stream, river,
or pond, use established access points to avoid injury and to prevent
erosion, which degrades water quality. Use a p.f.d., and know the water
before you put a paddle in. If you are planning a hike, you need to bring
plenty of water, a trail map, and take precautions against ticks and poison
ivy. Stay on marked trails to prevent erosion and to protect sensitive
plants and animals. Biking is another wonderful way to explore the watershed
as long as you wear a helmet, bring water, and keep an eye out for road or
trail hazards. Avoid off-road trails during wet weather to minimize ruts.
Have fun, stay safe, and protect the Blackstone!

Saturdays through October:
Leisurely Bike Tours in R.I.'s Blackstone Valley.
Participants enjoy a fun and relaxing way to experience culture, nature,
history and recreation on the 4-hr tours, for all fitness levels.
Info at
http://www.cycleblackstone.com/leisurelybiketour.htm.

Sundays through October:
River Tours on the Blackstone Valley Explorer.
Pawtucket, RI. 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, & 4:00 p.m. On these cruises you may see
swans, herons, geese, ducks, turtles, hawks and beautiful plants and trees!
The tour guide explains the ecology of the river and surrounding wetlands
interspersed with stories about the people and history of the region.
Info:
http://www.rivertourblackstone.com/contact.htm.

State Water Management ActIn 2009, Massachusetts established the Sustainable
Water Management Initiative, with an advisory committee, to optimize use
of the state's water resources for both people and aquatic life. From this
came the Water Management Act, which, among other things, regulates large
withdrawals of water by municipalities. The Mass DEP drafted revised
regulations for this process and the advisory committee recently submitted
its review of the draft. The state legislature will now hold hearings
on the Act. For a more thorough understanding of this issue critical to
the health of the Blackstone River watershed, please see
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/news/comment/310-cmr-36-00-water-management-act-regulations.html.

Turtle WatchThis is the time of year when Massachusetts'
freshwater turtles are laying eggs and moving between water and land.
Unfortunately, roads often come between these areas and turtle fatalities
are common. Please become familiar with areas where turtles are seen
on roadways. Drive slower to avoid hitting them. If you choose to
assist a turtle crossing a road, make sure you move it to the side that
it was heading in when you encountered it. Turtles know where they are
going, and trying to redirect them will only cause them to encounter the
road hazard again.

A BRWA member and volunteer water quality monitor
recently submitted this photo of a stream-side tree that had a lower
branch stripped of bark. Does anyone want to suggest an answer to this
nature mystery?

KingfishersIt's a warm summer day and you are paddling down
the river or fishing along a lakeshore when you hear a sharp rattling
sound or see a flash of bluish-grey plunging into the water. Chances
are that you've encountered a belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon.
These fish-eating birds, though not common, are found throughout the
region near rivers and brooks, lakes and ponds, and estuaries.

Kingfishers are stocky, pigeon-sized birds with a big head; thick,
pointed bill; a jagged head crest; and stripes or "belts" of color
across the chest. Males have a blue belt, whereas females have both a
blue belt and a rust-colored belt. This is one of the few avian species
where the female is the more brightly colored of the pair.

Solo during most of the year, males and females will bond for a single
breeding season starting in May. Both parents excavate a three- to
fifteen-foot long tunnel in a sandy bank near water, ending in a nesting
chamber. It is the availability of nesting sites that limits the
population size of kingfishers in an area. These birds require suitable
sites that provide hunting perches and access to open, clear water.
Turbid water or heavy aquatic vegetation impairs the birds' ability to
spot the fish they are hunting. Belted kingfishers show preferences
for riffle zones if nesting by rivers, and protected coves if nesting
on lakes.

In addition to fish like minnow, mummichugs, and trout, belted
kingfishers will eat crayfish, insects, and small mammals. The bones
and scales of the fish consumed are expelled in pellets, much like the
process used by owls to expel bones and fur. Breeding pairs of
kingfishers will actively and vocally defend their territory, which
varies in size depending on the richness of the food supply—the richer
the prey concentration, the smaller the territory. The male and female
will typically fly up and down a half mile of shoreline that may be
shared with nesting swallows.

Eggs are laid in June and July and the young birds will fledge in about
four weeks. Adults disperse away from the nesting tunnel shortly after
that, leaving the juveniles a ready-made feeding territory for the
remainder of the season.

Skunks, mink, raccoons, hawks, and snakes all prey on kingfishers.
The birds are sensitive to human disturbance and will leave their
perches to circle their territories—or leave all together if the
disturbance increases or is ongoing. Between August and November,
belted kingfishers will migrate south as needed to find open water for
the winter. So grab your binoculars and head out in search of these
dramatic anglers while they are around. It's always a thrilling
experience to observe them.

Throughout the summer, kids will be swimming in pools
and lakes, surfing by the ocean, rafting down lazy rivers, dancing in puddles
left by sun showers, dashing though lawn sprinklers, racing to the water
fountain, admiring morning dew, and clamoring for popsicles. What do all of
these summertime essentials require? Water! So that makes summer a great time
to introduce the concept of the water cycle to children.

A fun way to do so
is by watching Bill Nye the Science Guy's entertaining and informative video
about the water cycle. Your library might have a copy, or you can watch it
online at:

Nothing says summer like camping with friends,
family, or on your own. There are several ways to make your adventure
earth-friendly. Before consulting out-of-state maps, consider a local
campground or natural area to reduce your use of natural resources and
your contribution to air pollution produced by fossil fuel- dependent
transportation. Pack reusable dishes rather than paper products and use
biodegradable soap to help protect local water resources. Reduce soil
erosion (which degrades water quality) by staying on marked trails
during your rambles. And when the sun goes down, LED flashlights and
lanterns are an energy-efficient means to light your way.
Some material from
www.earthshare.org.

A cinquain poem is a form of poetry that is easy to master and fun to
share. It does not have to rhyme but it does follow a formula in which
each of the five lines have a specific number of syllables or words.
Create your own!

Line 1: Title—one word or two syllables

Line 2: Description or example of the title—two words or four syllables

Line 3: Action about the title—a three-word phrase or six syllables

Line 4: a four-word phrase describing a feeling about the title or eight syllables